Baltimore police shoot man during early morning robbery

Justin Fenton, The Baltimore Sun

A 27-year-old robbery suspect was shot and wounded by Baltimore police after fighting with an officer, officials said Monday. The man was expected to survive.

Anthony Guglielmi, the department's chief spokesman, said police were called to the 4200 block of Potter St. near Mt. St. Joseph High School about 4:20 a.m. for a report of a robbery, and officers found a man matching the suspect description.

Guglielmi said the suspect "engaged" an officer and a struggle ensued, during which time the suspect pulled a .22 caliber handgun. A backup officer fired one shot, striking the suspect in the stomach. He was taken to an area hospital in serious but stable condition.

Guglielmi said that witnesses to the robbery verified that the man who was shot was the robbery suspect, and they were being interviewed further. He said a knife was also found at the scene.

The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on routine administrative assignments, and homicide detectives were investigating, per policy.

City police officers have shot 13 people this year, eight of them fatally. In the most recent three incidents, since Aug. 24, police say all of the suspects had firearms and fired or pointed them at officers.